Akermanis signs with Pies

It's been a big week at KGV Oval, Glenorchy have finally announced the signing of controversial former Brisbane Lions premiership player, and former Western Bulldogs star Jason Akermanis.

The chase for Aker ended Thursday when the Glenorchy District Football Club formally announced his signing at 4:30pm. Steve Allie had announced that the club expects him to play as many games as possible for the Club throughout the season, as well as participate in pre-season training and other club and community activities.

Glenorchy had only just announced their new coach for the 2011 season, after a failed bit to secure former Kangaroo Glenn Archer, and recently retired Roo Corey Jones, the Magpies attempted to also sign former Melbourne high-flyer Russell Robertson, who was in the state and met with 3 TSL clubs.

He signed to coach a club in Geelong, and Glenorchy had announced their new coach in Byron Howard, Howard a former assisted to out going coach Ben Reid, and a former North Hobart premiership player. He's coached Brighton to a premiership, also worked with development coaching the Tasmanian Under 16's and even worked as a bench coach at North Hobart.

Glenorchy also announced Jonathon Bowring, a premiership player with the Magpies would be his assistant, knocking back a chance to coach in the Southern Football League. The week started with the announcing of Robbie Devine, a games record holder for North Hobart being signed as a specialist coach.

Akermanis brings much needed experience to Glenorchy, as well as his big name also will bring in big numbers of supporters to come and support the club. Glenorchy also expects Aker to act as a leader at the club, with coach Howard saying the following.

“Jason has already said that he wants to play in the midfield as much as he can and obviously we will have to work carefully with him to manage his body through the season,” Howard said.

“I’m sure our entire playing group will be extremely excited over the pre-season at the prospect of playing next year alongside a Brownlow Medallist.”

Jason Akermanis will join his new club on Monday Night at KGV Oval, where he will formally be unveiled by the Magpies, Glenorchy will be fielding 5 teams across two leagues next season, and the signing could certainly boost the numbers of players wanting to be at the club.

The signing of Aker was helped by AFL Tasmania who allowed Glenorchy more room in their salary cap to sign him. “We also want to thank AFL Tasmania and particularly TSL General Manager, Shaun Young, for giving us a dispensation on the salary cap that has enabled us to recruit Jason in what we hope will be a very positive initiative for football in Tasmania.” said Steve Allie in a media release.

Win News is also reporting that Akermanis' signing with Victorian club Milawa was incorrect and he won't be playing a one off game with them next season. Instead Akermanis will spend time with the Magpies, as a fly in player, and will hope to help Tasmanian Football out.

This is the biggest signing in the new TSL's history, the Statewide League was resurrected in 2009 after it became defunct at the conclusion of the 2000 season. In it's previous form the Tasmanian Football League had many big names, even had former Collingwood legend Albert Collier who is the only play in history to claim both the Brownlow Medal and William Leitch Medal. He also claimed a premiership with Cananore, who he had coached at the time.

With the William Leitch Medal not being used, Jason Akermanis is a chance to be the first player to capture the Tassie Medal and Brownlow double, if he manages to win it at his stint with the Magpies.

This is only the second signing so far for Glenorchy, having already signed Ben Brown from Devonport before the end of the 2010 TSL Season, Brown who is the grandson of former Glenorchy great Jim Manson, will start his 2011 season late after he had done his knee. The Magpies have lost some experience with Jade Hodge, and Bryce O'Garey finding their way to NSW club Leeton.

Other Tasmanian clubs are free to sign big name players like Akermanis, and gain extra cap room, but AFL Tasmania warns clubs that they will not be funding the signings. Glenorchy had raised the money via the facebook page “Get Aker At Glenorchy” with fans, and businesses helping.

Akermanis isn't the only AFL star to sign on to play in the TSL next season, former Bomber Jason Laycock has reached an agreement and signed with Burnie. Laycock is originally from Tasmania, growing up, and playing for East Devonport.